The Anti Aging Properties of
Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter

Anti aging Shea butter and cocoa butter are both key ingredients in popular anti aging creams, skin care products, and sunscreens, but did you know that both of these delicious-smelling butters have anti aging properties? Both minimize wrinkles, and both can actually fade burn marks and scars when used daily over a period of months. Both Shea butter and cocoa butter are powerful moisturizers that keep skin supple and young, too.

Cocoa butter comes from the same tropical nut from which chocolate is made and is in fact a key ingredient in chocolate. Shea butter comes from the tropical Shea palm tree, and is often used as a complete or partial substitute for cocoa butter in the manufacture of chocolate. Pure Shea butter is so nontoxic it can actually be eaten without any ill effect, although this is not recommended. (It doesn’t taste good raw.)

Both Shea butter and cocoa butter contain high concentrations of vitamin E and high amounts of antioxidants. Vitamin E is known to promote skin elasticity and to accelerate healing and regeneration of skin cells. Antioxidants help to keep the body young by removing dangerous toxins that trigger and speed up the aging process, and that degrade and damage cells.

Shea and cocoa butter have other anti aging properties as well. The sun is known to cause much more extensive damage to skin than was once believed. Sun damage skin ages quickly and is susceptible to skin cancer, dryness, and discoloration. Anti aging Shea butter and cocoa butter naturally protect skin from sunburn and sun damage, and both butters also reduce wrinkling, dryness, spotting, and discoloration. When massaged into the skin, Shea butter and cocoa butter can help to reduce bruising and deep tissue and muscle tenderness.

As skin ages, it produces less and less collagen. Collagen is the substance known to keep skin taut and supple and smooth. Shea butter directly stimulates collagen production in the skin when used as a moisturizer or skin cream.

Shea butter is also added to hair care products like shampoos, conditioners, and styling preparations to help prevent dry scalp and to moisturize hair follicles and restore shine. Shea butter helps to hold a hairstyle in place without harsh chemicals or sticky sprays, and it smells fabulous.

Finding Shea butter and cocoa butter in anti aging creams and skin care products is not difficult, but the great thing about anti aging Shea butter and cocoa butter is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the anti aging properties and effects. Both products can be used in their pure form, which is often much less expensive than department store cosmetics and emollients.

Shea butter and cocoa butter can be purchased in raw form online, or you can usually find them in any large natural foods store. Many people use Shea butter and cocoa butter in homemade cosmetics and soaps, and both are good to have on hand for sunburns, dry skin, and to salve small wounds. Shea butter and cocoa butter keep for about six months in pure form, so don’t buy more than you can use in that period of time.

Related links:

Natural Antiaging Skincare Products

Choosing an Organic Anti Aging Skin Cream